Commotion as Maama Fiina, Full Figure carry sh8m to New Taxi Park

Many travellers who turned up in the park on Thursday when the ban on public transport was lifted got stranded when they did not find any taxis connecting to their destinations, forcing them to sleep in the open.

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KAMPALA - There was commotion in the New Park on Saturday when Sylvia Namutebi aka Maama Fiina and Jeniffer Nakangu aka Full Figure arrived with a parcel of money, offering to clear transport fares for upcountry travellers who were stranded.

Many travellers who turned up in the park on Thursday when the ban on public transport was lifted got stranded when they did not find any taxis connecting to their destinations, forcing them to sleep in the open. 

By Friday, children were crying for food and water while several pregnant women were seen sleeping on the pavements, unable to buy food. Others said they were stuck after finding that the transport fares to their destinations had been doubled.

Mama Fiina being escorted away from the rowdy youth. (Photo by Patrick Kibirango)


Namutebi said she donated sh8.3m to pay for transport and buy food and drinks for people who had spent a night in the taxi park, giving priority to pregnant women and mothers with children. 

"I intended to help people who were not aware that there were no transport means in the taxi park, which had instead tarnished the name of President Museveni," she said, adding that hiking the prices had also made it difficult for people with limited money to pay for their journeys.  

Jeniffer Nakangu alias Full Figure surrounded by youth as she shows off some of the money.(Photo by Eddie Ssejjoba)


But after she left, taxi touts and youth overwhelmed Nakangu, demanding a share of the money. She tried to move around looking for more people stranded but her exercise was cut short after a swarm of youth followed her in large numbers, attracting more people.

She abandoned the exercise and was escorted to the Kampala City Council lockups but they attempted to force themselves inside the offices, forcing bouncers to repulse some of them.

Jeniffer Nakangu alias Full Figure being surrounded by youth as she carried money in a polythene bags. (Photo by Eddie Ssejjoba)


Sulaiti Ssentongo, the ‘commander' of the taxi park tried in vain to block the youth, which ensued in a fistfight.

The number kept increasing until Nakangu moved out and dashed into her waiting car, which was pushed away. But a man walking on crutches again stood in her way, demanding for a share of the money. He did not move away until he was given some money.    

Youth demanding for money from Jeniffer Nakangu (inside the car) after she picked money from Sylvia Namutebi to pay transport fares for people stranded in the taxi park. (Photo by Eddie Ssejjoba)


She was escorted to her car and whisked away and she ‘threw' out some money to divert the fighting groups. By yesterday, the transport situation had returned to normal for long routes.